Titus 1:8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Titus 1:6-16

The apostle here gives Titus directions about ordination, showing whom he should ordain, and whom not. I. Of those whom he should ordain. He points out their qualifications and virtues; such as respect their life and manners, and such as relate to their doctrine: the former in the Titus 1:6, 7, 8, and the latter in the Titus 1:9. 1. Their qualifications respecting their life and manners are, (1.) More general: If any be blameless; not absolutely without fault, so none are, for there is none... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Titus 1:8-9

1:8-9 Rather he must be hospitable, a lover of all good things and all good people, prudent, just, pious, self-controlled, with a strong grip on the truly reliable message which Christian teaching gave to him, that he may be well able to encourage the members of the Church with health-giving teaching, and to convict the opponents of the faith. The previous passage set out the things which the elder of the Church must not be; this one sets out what he must be. These necessary qualities... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Titus 1:8

But a lover of hospitality ,.... See Gill on 1 Timothy 3:2 . a lover of good men , or "of good"; the Syriac version renders it, "of good things"; as prayer, preaching, reading, meditation, spiritual conversation, and every religious exercise: or "of good men"; for such an elder or bishop has chiefly to do and converse with; and if he is not a lover of them, their company will be disagreeable to him, and he will be of no advantage to them; and if he does not love the souls of men, he... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Titus 1:8

A lover of hospitality - Φιλοξενον· A lover of strangers. See the note on 1 Timothy 3:2 . Instead of φιλοξενον , one MS. has φιλοπτωχον , a lover of the poor. That minister who neglects the poor, but is frequent in his visits to the rich, knows little of his Master's work, and has little of his Master's spirit. A lover of good men - Φιλαγαθον· A lover of goodness or of good things in general. Sober - Prudent in all his conduct. Just in all his dealings. Holy in his heart. ... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Titus 1:8

Verse 8 8.But hospitable, devoted to kindness Hence it is evident how destructive is that plague which tears the Church by quarrels. With this vice he contrasts, first, docility, and next, gentleness and modesty towards all; for a bishop will never teach well, who is not also ready to learn. Augustine praises highly a saying of Cyprian: “Let him be as patient to learn as skillful to teach.” Besides, bishops often need advice and warnings. If they refuse to be admonished, if they reject good... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Titus 1:1-16

The ministry of character. The pastoral Epistles, and this chapter in particular, bring prominently before us the Christian ministry as of commanding importance in the scheme of Christianity. Christianity, the sum and substance of Christian doctrine, was to be diffused among all nations; and the great instrument for maintaining it in efficiency and power was to be the ministry. But in describing the ministerial qualifications the apostle lays so much stress upon the personal character of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Titus 1:5-9

Church order. "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting," etc. Titus was now at Crete. "Crete, over whose Christian population Titus had been placed by Paul, was a well-known, large, and populous island in the Mediterranean. It lies geographically further south than any of the European islands, and, roughly speaking, almost at an equal distance from each of the three Old World continents, Europe, Asia, Africa. We identify it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Titus 1:7-9

The overseers. "For a bishop," etc. Here we have the moral qualification necessary for an overseer or bishop of the Churches. These bishops were to be an order by themselves, not, as Baxter would have them," Primus inter pares," or "first among equals." Each overseer who was naturally placed in a leading city ought, from his prominence as overseer of the district, to be a ministerial example to his brethren. The practical counsels here given apply equally to all aspects of the "overseer,"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Titus 1:8

Given to for a lover of, A.V.; good for good men, A.V.; sober-minded for sober, A.V. Given to hospitality ( φιλόξενον ); 1 Timothy 3:2 , note. A lover of good ( φιλάγαθον ) see 2 Timothy 3:3 , note on ἀφιλάγαθον . Only here in the New Testament, and only once in the LXX ., Wis. 7:22, where it seems to mean "a lover of that which is good," and where the long string of adjectives is very similar to that here; found occasionally in classical Greek. Sober-minded ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Titus 1:8

The bishop's positive qualifications. I. BUT A LOVER OF HOSPITALITY . 1. This trait was specially suitable to a time when Christians, travelling from one place to another, were in the habit of receiving kindly entertainment from brethren. 2. This habit may bring blessing to our houses. Some have thereby "entertained angels unawares" ( Hebrews 13:2 ). 3. It recommends the gospel to find its ministers ready at all times to feed the hungry, opening heart and... read more

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